NIU shooting victims, their stories

Five diverse paths converged in lecture hall One was a loyal fraternity brother, another an only child from a suburban family. One was a first-generation American, another a soldier returning for an education. A fifth was a quiet sophomore who liked to sing and listen to music. They had different majors, interests, backgrounds and life experiences. But the five victims of Thursday's rampage shared a common goal at Northern Illinois University -- to improve themselves and stay close to home. In doing so, the group was the face of NIU's student body: a cross-section of Chicagoland residents in search of an expedient and affordable path to a better life. Their varied paths converged in the front rows of an introduction to oceanography lecture. Their shared dreams -- and those of their families and friends -- were shattered in the final minutes of class. As the instructor finished a presentation on the various types of sea rocks, former student Steven Kazmierczak mounted the stage and fatally shot five and wounded many more before taking his own life. Friday morning, police confirmed the names of those slain (from left): Ryanne Mace, 19, of Carpentersville; Julianna Gehant, 32, of Mendota; Catalina Garcia, 20, of Cicero; Gayle Dubowski, 20, of Carol Stream and Dan Parmenter, 20, of Elmhurst. Several more were still fighting for their lives.

Five diverse paths converged in lecture hall One was a loyal fraternity brother, another an only child from a suburban family. One was a first-generation American, another a soldier returning for an education. A fifth was a quiet sophomore who liked to sing and listen to music. They had different majors, interests, backgrounds and life experiences. But the five victims of Thursday's rampage shared a common goal at Northern Illinois University -- to improve themselves and stay close to home. In doing so, the group was the face of NIU's student body: a cross-section of Chicagoland residents in search of an expedient and affordable path to a better life. Their varied paths converged in the front rows of an introduction to oceanography lecture. Their shared dreams -- and those of their families and friends -- were shattered in the final minutes of class. As the instructor finished a presentation on the various types of sea rocks, former student Steven Kazmierczak mounted the stage and fatally shot five and wounded many more before taking his own life. Friday morning, police confirmed the names of those slain (from left): Ryanne Mace, 19, of Carpentersville; Julianna Gehant, 32, of Mendota; Catalina Garcia, 20, of Cicero; Gayle Dubowski, 20, of Carol Stream and Dan Parmenter, 20, of Elmhurst. Several more were still fighting for their lives.

Gayle Dubowski loved the arts, be it singing soprano in the Glenbard North High School choir, acting in a musical, or doodling out cartoon characters that amazed her friends. At Glenbard North, she was in the theater production of "Little Shop of Horrors," made teachers smile, and befriended Ashley Mortensen of Carol Stream soon after they met two years ago. "She went out of her way," said Mortensen, a junior at Glenbard. "She was a really sweet and genuine person." Dubowski grew up at the end of a cul-de-sac of modest two-story homes not far from Glenbard North High School. A wooden sign hangs at the front door declaring the establishment of the Dubowski home in 1982. On Friday, young women shuttled cases of bottled water into the house. Glenbard North Principal John Mensik said several teachers went home early Friday after learning of Dubowski's death. Counselors were called to the school for seniors who knew her. Messages left on a Facebook memorial dedicated to Dubowski indicate a deep faith in God. "She was so happy, open and serving," wrote friend Laura Moss. "I know that she shone so brightly for God on that campus."

Gayle Dubowski loved the arts, be it singing soprano in the Glenbard North High School choir, acting in a musical, or doodling out cartoon characters that amazed her friends. At Glenbard North, she was in the theater production of "Little Shop of Horrors," made teachers smile, and befriended Ashley Mortensen of Carol Stream soon after they met two years ago. "She went out of her way," said Mortensen, a junior at Glenbard. "She was a really sweet and genuine person." Dubowski grew up at the end of a cul-de-sac of modest two-story homes not far from Glenbard North High School. A wooden sign hangs at the front door declaring the establishment of the Dubowski home in 1982. On Friday, young women shuttled cases of bottled water into the house. Glenbard North Principal John Mensik said several teachers went home early Friday after learning of Dubowski's death. Counselors were called to the school for seniors who knew her. Messages left on a Facebook memorial dedicated to Dubowski indicate a deep faith in God. "She was so happy, open and serving," wrote friend Laura Moss. "I know that she shone so brightly for God on that campus." (Glenbard North yearbook photo)